IN BRIEF

CHINA is unlikely to join the World Trade Organisation in the near future, Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan said this week after discussions with senior US officials. “We have to lower our sights somewhat,” said Brittan. Talks have stalled as Beijing resists wholesale reform of its ailing state-owned industries.

European Voice

7/8/98, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 3:34 AM CET

GREEK Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos has warned that military intervention by NATO in the Albanian-dominated Serb province of Kosovo could provoke an “explosion” in the Balkans. The organisation’s involvement served to encourage Kosovo separatists to aim for secession and “impels them to the choice of armed conflict”, he argued, adding: “If you open the window to violent changes of borders, you will have an explosion in the Balkans.”

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week played down the importance of a United Nations assembly vote to upgrade the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s (PLO) observer status, claiming that EU and US leaders had helped to minimise the impact of the change. “I am grateful for the assistance of the United States and the European leaders that I have talked to, who I think acted in this case responsibly and swiftly,” he said.

POLISH Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek said he did not believe the EU’s smaller countries would block enlargement. Speaking after talks with Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres, Buzek said: “We reached the conclusion we are on the same side. Enlargement will not be good for just the bloc, but for all of its members.” Guterres agreed, saying Portugal did not aim “in any way” to delay talks.

THE Council of Ministers has been reprimanded by EU Ombudsman Jacob Söderman for denying a journalist access to agendas for meetings between senior officials planning EU-US summits. The Council had refused to consider requests from Tony Bunyan, editor of Statewatch, insisting it did not have sole responsibility for the documents as they had been co-written with US officials. “The Ombudsman’s decision means the Council will have to reconsider Mr Bunyan’s application and apply the rules correctly,” said Söderman’s office.